Makeover — Student volunteers help patients get ready for their special photo shoot.

MANILA, Philippines — Family members excitedly walked towards the makeshift photography studio, wearing colorcoded shirts. Then at the count of three, they flashed their biggest smiles for the camera.

But more than the fun in having their photos taken, there was hope and joy among these Kythe Foundation patients based at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital (UST H) and their families, hope that soon, these children would be cancer-free so that they may enjoy their childhood again.

This was the optimistic atmosphere pervading “Colors of Hope,” an activity mounted by the Kythe Foundation and Photography with a Difference (PWD) held in UST last October 15. Colors of Hope gathered families of Kythe Foundation pediatric cancer patients to have their portraits taken to have a lasting and meaningful memento of their journey.

Kythe Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization that gives psycho-social help to pediatric patients with cancer and other chronic illnesses.

Among their goal is to make the hospital a more positive environment for the children. These photo sessions, a brainchild of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (DLS-CSB) professor Harvey V. Chua, is certainly one amazing way to brighten the day of the children and their parents.

Six-year-old Sam Flores ran and played happily with the other patients in the holding area while waiting for her family to be called.

Her mother Marites was smiling at the fact that Sam easily got along with the other kids, not showing a hint that she has Thalassemia Major, an illness which quickly reduces the hemoglobin count in Sam’s body. “Pagdating niya ng six months (old), na-diagnose na siya...

May treatment siya, pero lifetime na ‘yung sakit niya,” Marites explained. Since being diagnosed, Sam regularly goes to UST H to receive monthly blood transfusions. Marites said Kythe constantly helps the family pay for the medical expenses.

Joelyn Tipan, 10, just recovered from leukemia. Kythe has helped Joelyn with medical expenses when she was still undergoing chemotherapy sessions. At present, Joelyn only goes to USTH to undergo bone marrow biopsy every six months. She is already considered a Kythe graduate.

“‘Pag sinabi mo kasing ‘graduate’, bumabalik balik pa ‘yan. They really have to go back at the hospital.

Because they are our patients when they were getting treatment, we look after them for as long as we are still in touch with them and they can still participate,” explains Kythe Childlife program officer Nina Nerissa Sumpaico.

But Joelyn and her lola Remedios Alvarez still participate in Kythe’s activities. “Gustong-gusto niya kasi kapag may activities. Lalo ‘pag may mga laro, may mga regalo,” lola Remedios shared happily.

The Other Side of the Picture

The first “Colors of Hope’’ was mounted at the National Children’s Hospital a few months ago, with student-photographers of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde participating.

This time, thru the initiative of  UST College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) professor Meo Remalante, UST had the opportunity to help in PWD’s advocacy.

“Meo asked me if it’s possible to make UST the next venue of our project. Then I suggested to let the entire program be done by student photographers,” shares Harvey, who was evidently overwhelmed with the way people have shared their time and resources.

Different groups like ADHD Society of the Philippines, Autism Society Philippines (ASP ), Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI ) and Parent Advocates for the Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC) participated in Colors of hope.

TOUCHED LIVES

True enough, about 37 of Remalante’s Photography students in the Advertising Arts were more than enthusiastic to organize the event. Classrooms were transformed into studios and props were set up.

Some packed meals and did the props, others volunteered to do the make-up of the models, while majority became the photographers. Aside from the UST students, many of Harvey’s friends also chipped in to sponsor the food, the photo frames, and the colorful shirts for the families.

The Canon Advocacy Team also lent a printer for the instant output of the photos, so the families could take home their snapshots.

“Since this is Photo1 class, after training them the basics of digital photography, it’s about time to put what they have learned to something worthy, and that is getting to the advocacy of photography,” Remalante shared.

Nineteen-year-old student Pauline Canlas, whose mother is currently fighting cancer, found a connection between her and the children’s families.

“Kapag naiisip ko ‘yung mom ko, affected ako pero hindi naman ako ‘yung victim.

Pero yung mga bata, smile lang sila. After this experience, I learned to look at it in a positive way,” shared Pauline, who was assigned to do the make-up for the families. Jeremy Marcelo, another student photographer from UST , volunteered in the event as a tribute to his mom who died of cancer.

He was assigned in the USTHCancer Ward and recalled his experience with the patient who did not want to have a photo without taking a bath. “Inantay namin siya matapos maligo. Pagkatapos, masaya na siya. Mas naisip niya pa ‘yung pagligo niya kaysa sa sakit niya,” Jeremy shared.

A sole student from the De La Salle University-Manila also volunteered for the day. Laurene Ching, a senior Biology student, spent her free time that day, going from one patient to another to play and talk with them as if she was their big sister. Laurine shared her intentions of becoming a pediatrician someday.

Remalante did not at all require his students to participate. “I told them, ‘Look, I’ve already encoded your grades. And this activity is not part of your grading. There will be no scholastic points, but the point will be from above,” he mused.

GOING NATIONAL

PWD’s Colors of Hope photography session is a year-long activity consisting of 10 sessions. Their team is currently checking out Naga and Davao because Kythe Foundation has chapters in those provinces.

“We are looking for students in local universities instead (of) bringing all the 200 children here, which is very expensive. So the movement really goes nationwide and it will be able to reach them despite being scattered,” Harvey said.

As the day wore on, the smiles on the children’s faces continued to be there. The were having the time of their life obviously.

“After this event we’ve become friends with the children and their families, and we learned that they are our new heroes. It is so inspiring to know what they are going through and yet they are still smiling,” Harvey said.